You can easily become overwhelmed with the variety of beading wire available. There are several types of finishes and materials, which include gold, brass, copper, silver or craft wire. Variations of gold and silver are also available including silver and gold plated, sterling silver and gold filled. More costly beading wire are commonly available by the ounce or foot whereas copper and brass wires can be packed in 10 to 40 yard spools.. Brass and copper are easier to manipulate so along with being a cheaper option are easier to practise with when starting out..

Beading wire hardness

A wire’s hardness describes a wire’s temper or malleability. Sterling silver can be available in two main categories; these are half-hard and dead-soft. When you want the wire to bend with your fingers you’ll need dead-sott. A slightly stiffer wire which will hold it’s shape superior is half-hard. Hammering a piece of beading wire will flatten it and make it a more ridgid piece, although you’ll find that most wires will harden a bit as they are manipulated..

Wire Shapes

Various shapes are available in all types of beading wire, shapes include round, half-round, twisted, square and triangle. Choosing the shape of wire required will be easier if you know the type of style you want to have.Wire Gauge Scale
The diameter or tickness is measured in wire by the gauge. Sizes 12 to 28 are the most common sizes used for beading and jewelry making. The lower the gauge number is the more massive the thickness of the wire will be.

28 Gauge Wire
Delicate applications like crochet or twining usually require this gauge or thinner due to them being delicate. If you have beads, gemstones or pearls with very small holes the this may be your only option for wire.

24-26 Gauge Wire
Ultra fine wire is what this gauge of wire is also called.. It is sometimes used for beaded flowers, wire crochet and wire wrapping. But is also regularly used with small gemstones and small pearls.

Gauge 20 - 22
You can use many jewelry finding with this gauge wire so it is an all purpose wire. Also available in half-hard or dead soft.

16-18 Gauge Wire
This wire is of medium thickness and fairly sturdy. This wire is regularly used to make clasps, large jump rings and chain mail.

Gauge 12 - 14
This wire is only available in the hardness - dead-soft and is ideal used for wire shapes that are unsupported such as neck wires and bangle bracelets.

For bead supplies in the UK check out our website or visit our blog to see the new beads and findings that we’ve available!

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